In discussing the physical characteristics of matter, scientists often distinguish between intensive and extensive properties. Understanding the differences between intensive and extensive properties is fundamental in fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering because it affects how properties are measured and interpreted.
Contents
Intensive vs. Extensive Property
- Intensive properties do not depend on the amount of matter and include characteristics like density and color.
- Extensive properties are dependent on the sample size and include mass, volume, and length.
Intensive vs. Extensive: the Definition
What Does Intensive Mean?
Intensive properties are those characteristics of matter that do not change with the amount of substance. These properties are inherent to the substance and can be used to identify it, regardless of the sample size. For example:
- Temperature (T): The measure of thermal energy within a substance.
- Density (ρ): The mass per unit volume of a substance.
- Hardness (η): The resistance of a material to deformation or penetration.
What Does Extensive Mean?
Extensive properties differ as they depend on the system size or the amount of matter present. These properties are additive for independent, non-interacting subsystems. Here are a few examples:
- Mass: The total amount of matter in an object.
- Volume: The amount of space a substance occupies.
- Size and length are also extensive properties; they vary directly with the amount of material.
Here’s a table to summarize:
| Word | Context | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive | High degree of effort or focus | The course demanded intensive study from us. |
| Extensive | Broad in scope or scale | We conducted extensive surveys to gather data. |
Tips to Remember the Difference
Mnemonic Device: We can remember “DIME”
- D for Density (Intensive)
- I for Intensive
- M for Mass (Extensive)
- E for Extensive
Intensive vs. Extensive: Examples
Example Sentences Using Intensive
- Temperature: No matter how much water we have in a kettle, its boiling point is an intensive property because it remains at 100°C.
- Color: The vibrant blue of the sky we observe is characteristic of its intensive property since it doesn’t change regardless of the amount we see.
- Density: Whether we have a kilogram or a gram of gold, its density, an intensive property, is constant at approximately 19.3 g/cm³.
- Hardness: The hardness of a diamond is an intensive property we note; it’s the same even if we compare a large gemstone to a small one.
- Melting Point: The melting point of ice is a clear example of an intensive property, remaining steadfast at 0°C, no matter the size of the ice cube.
Example Sentences Using Extensive
- Mass: The more apples we gather, the greater our total mass, showcasing mass as an extensive property.
- Volume: When we fill up a balloon with air, its volume increases, which is an attribute of it being an extensive property.
- Energy: The total amount of energy we have stored in a battery is extensive since it varies with the size and number of batteries.
- Weight: If we stack two identical chairs, one on top of the other, the weight doubles, demonstrating an extensive property.
- Length: The length of a piece of string becomes an extensive property because it changes when we cut it or tie more to it.
Related Confused Words
Intensive vs. Intentive
- Intensive: This adjective describes something that is concentrated or carried out with a lot of effort and attention to detail. For example, “intensive care” is thorough and dedicated care usually provided in hospitals.
- Intentive: Although not commonly used, “intentive” can be related to or show intent. It is less about the effort or concentration and more about the aim or purpose behind an action.
Extensive vs. Expansive
- Extensive: When something is widespread or covers a large area, it is said to be extensive. For example, extensive reading involves reading a wide range of materials to develop general skills.
- Expansive: This word describes something that has the capacity or tendency to expand. “Expansive” can also refer to being communicative or open, such as having an expansive way of speaking.
Jim Manheim is a highly skilled writer, editor, and teacher from Michigan, with a wealth of experience and expertise in the English language, including slang and idioms. He is widely recognized as a word geek and a music enthusiast, as well as a grammar and writing expert, with a passion for language that shines through in his work.
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